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Quilters in Liberia

A quilt in Liberia’s executive mansion. Former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was a great booster of Liberia’s quilting tradition.

Here’s a tidbit for the quilters who visit this blog.

According to Cholo Brooks at Global News Network Liberia, the African nation founded by former US slaves has a proud quilting tradition that includes a story about Queen Victoria.

Brooks writes that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, until recently president of Liberia, got together with Liberian quilters last fall to reaffirm her support. She praised “the Associations of Liberian Women who produced quilts for national and international use – urging them to work together and be strong in lifting Liberia: ‘Let me commend you for what you have been doing.’ …

“President Sirleaf made the statement on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at her Foreign Ministry office in Monrovia when she received in audience over 23 female quilters from different communities in Monrovia and parts adjacent. …

“At a forum aimed at promoting Liberian women in business, President Sirleaf … pledged her continued support and thanked them for their contribution to Liberia, including keeping the peace Liberia now enjoys. …

“The women appealed to President Sirleaf for additional support in promoting quilts both nationally and internationally, especially by securing a place for them to operate their businesses.” More at Global News Network Liberia, here.

See also this BBC article about Martha Ricks, the Liberian who made a Coffee Tree quilt for Queen Victoria — and delivered it to her.

Photo: Penny DaleQuageh quilting group in Caldwell, Liberia, recreated the Coffee Tree quilt that Martha Ricks gave to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in 1892.